Chevy Cruz Eco 2011 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Why 2015 is going to be a huge year for trucks

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn took center stage to introduce the 2016 Titan last week at the Detroit Auto Show. He spoke of the truck's new features, impressive Cummins V8 diesel engine and the extensive amount of time and money required to build a modern, competitive pickup truck. "We have done all of this because we see opportunity – an opportunity in the unmet needs of today's American truck customers," Ghosn said. He was speaking about the Titan, but his thoughts echo the industry's mindset: When it comes to trucks, find an opportunity and attack. Even with CAFE regulations looming and fickle consumer preferences, investing in trucks is a no-brainer for automakers. Some consumers will always need a truck for their job or lifestyle. And some people will always want one, whether they need it or not. With that in mind, here are four reasons why the pickup-truck sector is more important than ever and poised for growth in 2015. View 24 Photos The Nissan Titan Is Back Okay, it never left, but the Titan hadn't been redesigned since its launch in 2003, and Nissan sold more NV200s than Titans in 2014. It's an understatement to say the truck was languishing. That all changes with the 2016 model. The Titan will come in two variants, a traditional fullsize competitor and the Titan XD. The XD will lead the market launch, and it arrives late this year. It's pitched as a "whitespace" offering, Nissan sales and marketing vice president Fred Diaz said. The idea is to offer something in the general size and price range of a fullsize truck, but also have some of the capability of a heavy-duty truck. The XD uses a fully boxed ladder frame, the chassis design from Nissan's commercial division, and the wheelbase is about 20 inches longer than other Titan models. The XD, which Nissan is calling the flagship of the line, will be the only model with the 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8. It produces 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, while being able to tow 12,000 pounds. V6 and V8 gasoline models will also be offered on the Titan XD and the standard, non-XD model. When production ramps up, the Titan will be sold with several cabs, beds and trims. New features include trailer sway control, an integrated trailer brake controller, more storage options in the cabin and even laminated front and rear side glass to reduce outside noise. All of this has given Nissan fresh confidence in an area where it admittedly has been lacking. "We can compete," Diaz told Autoblog.

GM recalls 64k 2011-2013 Volts over carbon monoxide fears, stop sale on Trax and Encore

General Motors is recalling 50,249 Chevrolet Volts from the 2011-2013 model years in the US and an additional 13,937 exported examples because of fears over carbon monoxide buildup. According to a statement, if a Volt is accidentally left on while running on electric power, its internal combustion engine would eventually kick on to charge on the battery. If this happens in an enclosed space, then carbon monoxide can fill the area, leading to a potential exposure to the dangerous gas. According to GM, there have been two injuries reported due to this issue. To fix the problem, there's a software update to limit the time the vehicle can idle. According to Automotive News, GM is also issuing a stop sale on about 2,300 examples of the 2015 Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore. In these compact crossovers, it's possible that the steering column assembly could touch the power steering circuit board and cause damage over time. This could potentially cause the system to stop working. Automotive News indicates that the automaker is still working with the supplier to get the necessary parts to repair this problem. General Motors is recalling 50,249 Chevrolet Volts in the U.S. from the 2011-2013 model years to implement a software update that will limit the amount of time a vehicle can be left idling in the "on" or "run" position. If a driver exits the vehicle and inadvertently leaves the vehicle "on" by failing to react to cues and warning chimes emitted by the vehicle, the vehicle's high-voltage battery will drain after a period of time and the gasoline engine will begin to run. If the gas engine runs for a long period of time within an enclosed space, such as a garage, carbon monoxide could build up. GM is aware of two injuries, both related to carbon monoxide build up. The total recall population including Canada and exports is 64,186. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Chevy bi-fuel Silverado 3500HD Chassis Cab, VW Car-Net works with Apple Watch

Volkswagen's Car-Net app will be compatible with the Apple Watch. Using the app, owners will be able to lock and unlock their car, check charging status or fuel level, locate their car, flash the lights, and honk the horn of their vehicle remotely from their wrist. E-Golf owners can begin or end charging or operate climate control through their Apple Watch. The app can also monitor other household drivers with speed and boundary alerts - perfect for the parent who lends their car to a teenager. Read more in the press release from Volkswagen. Chevrolet is launching the bi-fuel 2016 Silverado 3500HD Chassis Cab. The work truck will now offer a version that will run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG). "CNG burns cleaner and costs less at the pump than gasoline, making it an appealing option for fleets," says GM's Ed Peper. Companies like Southern California Gas Co. find that trucks like this meet their work needs and help them achieve their goals of greening up their fleets, GM says. Read more in the press release from GM. UPS has made a deal to buy renewable natural gas from Clean Energy Fuels. This make UPS the biggest user of natural gas in the shipping industry. Clean Energy Fuels, co-founded by T. Boone Pickens, will provide UPS with its Redeem brand natural gas, which uses methane captured from landfills. UPS hopes to log 1 billion miles with its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by 2020. "Our rolling laboratory approach provides a unique opportunity for UPS to test different fuels and technologies," says Mitch Nichols of UPS. "Today's RNG agreement will help mature the market for this promising alternative fuel." Read more in the press release below. UPS BECOMES NATION'S LARGEST USER OF RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS IN SHIPPING INDUSTRY New Agreement with Clean Energy Will Help Grow Market for Use of Methane Gas from Landfills as Fuel Atlanta, May 5, 2015 – UPS® (NYSE:UPS) today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) for its delivery vehicle fleet from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE). The deal signifies UPS's plan to significantly expand its use of renewable natural gas for its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The company has a goal of driving one billion miles using its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by the end of 2017. Clean Energy Fuels, co-founded by T.